Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women look to save league season

By Will Clark

Published: 15:30, 02 August 2019

| Updated: 15:40, 02 August 2019

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INVERNESS Caledonian Thistle Women resume their SWF Division One North campaign against Cove Rangers looking to reach their aim of a top-two finish.

Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.. Caley Thistle player Aimee McCormick and Raith player Tyler Rattray (right)...Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.Picture: Gair Fraser. Image No. 043496..

A bad run of form which saw three defeats in-a-row before the summer break saw Caley Thistle fall to sixth place in the division.

They are nine points behind leaders Aberdeen having played two games more.

With only the league winners gaining promotion to SWPL2, manager Karen Mason says they will require Aberdeen to suffer a major collapse in their remaining games to have a chance of promotion.

But she believes victory against Cove Rangers at Millburn Academy on Sunday can see them keep up the chase with second place Dunfermline Athletic who are only six points in front.

“The target hasn’t changed from the start of the year,” she said

“We wanted to finish in the top two in the league.

“Now it is about getting more consistency into our performances.”

Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.. Caley Thistle player Natalie Bodiam puts in goal number one past Raith defender Fern Westland..Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.Picture: Gair Fraser. Image No. 043496..

Inverness looked like challengers for promotion when they kept in touch with the top of the table with an undefeated run of seven games.

But after shock defeats including a 3-1 loss at Deveronvale and 4-3 defeat at Montrose together with a 4-2 home defeat at home to Aberdeen, Mason says much improvement is required.

“We can’t just perform for 45 minutes, we need to perform for the entire 90 minutes.

“We did go on a good run of form during part of the season.

“But towards the end we made too many mistakes and errors that we got punished for.

“We finished in third place last season so any position above that will be seen as an improvement.

“When it is mathematically possible there is still a chance.

“But if we play like we did towards the end of the first half of the season we will have no chance.

“We need to do ourselves justice and develop our game through the second half of the season.”

Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.. Caley Thistle player Katie Cleland and Raith Rover Ellis Yeman (left)...Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.Picture: Gair Fraser. Image No. 043496..

Jana Brady is still recovering from injury but otherwise Mason will have full fit squad available.

But she said players' work and personal commitments in the team may reduce her options.

Kick-off at Millburn Academy is on Sunday at 12:30pm.

Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.. Caley Thistle player Alex Andrews...Womens Caley Thistle vs Raith.Picture: Gair Fraser. Image No. 043496..

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